AIM Honors the 2024 Industry Award Winners

Pittsburgh, PA, November 21, 2024 – AIM Global, the leading industry association and global authority for over 50 years in innovation, standards, and solutions in barcode, biometrics, IoT, NFC, RFID, RTLS, and RAIN, is delighted to announce today the winners of the 2024 AIM industry awards. These awards celebrate the industry’s brightest minds, innovative technologies, and dedicated individuals and organizations who have made significant strides in advancing the automatic identification and data capture industry.

AIM Global presented six prestigious awards to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of AIDC. These awards celebrate exceptional contributions from individuals and organizations across various categories, including the Allan Gilligan Award, Clive Hohberger Technology Award, Paul Bergé International Business Development Award, Richard Dilling Award, Ted Williams Award and our Lifetime Achievement Award.

Richard Dilling Award:

Since 1984, the Richard Dilling Award has been the highest honor given in the automatic identification and data capture industry. Named for Richard R. Dilling, an industry pioneer and former Vice President of AIM, is presented to executives, scientists, and engineers in recognition of outstanding contributions that further the growth of the industry through important applications and new technology developments.

Don Ferguson is the originator of the so-called “T bit” (Toggle) would be soft controllable vs hard coded in RFID tag chips, so crucial for RFID to distinguish between GS1 and ISO/IEC encodings.

Alan Gilligan Award

This award was established in 2012 to honor a revolutionary developer of supply chain standards across multiple industries. The award is given to a member of the industry who has made outstanding contributions to the development of AIDC applications in materials handling and logistics supply chain.

Tagologic has been awarded for its groundbreaking innovation in supply chain technology. By integrating blockchain with their TTAG application, Tagologic has revolutionized product authentication and transparency, setting a new standard for efficiency and safety in the distribution chain.

Dr. Clive Hohberger Technology Award:

Created in 2018 to honor the lifetime contribution of Dr. Clive Hohberger, a prolific inventor. This award recognizes scientists, engineers, software developers, or systems integrators for outstanding contributions that have furthered the growth of the industry through important applications and new technology developments.

Benjamin Bekritsky is presented this award for his groundbreaking work in advancing RFID technology through the development of a pioneering software feature for Zebra’s ATR overhead wide-area array UHF RTLS reader. His exceptional contributions have significantly enhanced item-level movement detection in retail supply chains and improved loss prevention strategies, setting a new standard in the industry.

Paul Bergé International Business Development Award:

The Paul Bergé Award, established in 2020, recognizes the extensive international AIDC business development efforts spearheaded by Paul Bergé throughout his career. Presented each year, this award distinguishes an individual or an organization that demonstrates an international impact on expanding AIDC technology awareness and implementation.

Frank Yiannas is awarded for his influential advocacy in food supply chain traceability. As the former Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy & Response at the US FDA, his compelling calls for enhanced automation and data collection have made a profound international impact, advancing the industry’s ability to swiftly manage recalls and safeguard public health.

Ted Williams Award:

Named in honor of Ted Williams, an industry innovator, collaborator, and long-time member of the AIM Global Technical Symbology Committee. The award is presented annually to a professor or student in recognition of innovative and exceptional contributions to the development of the Automatic Identification and Mobility industry that can further the growth of the industry through their work as a teacher, researcher, or entrepreneur.

Justin Patton has been awarded for his pivotal role in advancing the RFID industry through the development of the Auburn RFID Labs. His leadership and expertise have provided invaluable, unbiased insights and verifiable testing, driving successful global RFID implementations and shaping the future of the technology.

Lifetime Achievement Award:

The AIM Global Lifetime Achievement Awards are given to an elite group of past and present members whose careers have contributed in a major way to the advancement of AIDC technology that is being used in multiple use cases such as automated asset tracking, product verification, Internet of Things, etc.

Sprague Ackley has exhibited great dedication to the AIDC industry and contributes his time to the technical symbology committees of ISO, AIM, and GS1, supporting application standards development groups in automotive, retail, healthcare, electronic, and materials handling realms.

“The AIM Industry Awards showcase the remarkable individuals and organizations that drive innovation and excellence in the industry, and we are happy to recognize their impactful achievements,” said AIM’s CEO, Mary Lou Bosco.

A virtual ceremony was held early this month. To watch the official presentations, visit here.

About AIM

AIM is the trusted worldwide industry association for the automatic identification industry. For more than half a century, AIM has provided unbiased information, educational resources, and standards to providers and users of these technologies. ​AIM membership provides access to an insider’s perspective on trends and opportunities along with a voice in shaping the growth and future of the industry.  Member benefits include education, advocacy, and community, as well as a role in creating industry standards through collaboration. Visit www.aimglobal.org for more information.